Singapore Travel Brochure

MISAWA ITT

Singapore 35th

ABOUT SINGAPORE

Singapore is officially known as the Republic of Singapore and is located in southeast Asia. It is an island country off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is 137 kilometers north of the equator. Singapore is comprised of 63 islands, which are separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor. As a country, it has been extensively urbanized; however, it still has a little primary rainforest left.

HISTORY Legend has it that a 14th Century Sumatran prince spotted an auspicious beast (probably a Malayan tiger) upon landing on the island after a thunderstorm. Thus, the name Singapore comes from the Malay words singa, for lion, and pura, for city. Prior to European settlement, the island was the site of a Malay fishing village and inhabited by several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people.

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The island’s initial success resulted from its role as a duty free port for the three way trade among China, India, and the Malay Archipelago. Today, it continues to wittingly maneuver its way in the world of international trade, just as it had done in the 19th century, and a large part of that success is owed to its government’s pro-industrialization policies and excellence-oriented multiethnic people.

ABOUT SINGAPORE

PEOPLE Singapore has a population of 5.7 million, 3.4 million of whom are Singapore citizens. There are four official languages of Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Singapore became a major financial and shipping hub, constantly ranked the most expensive city to live since 2013. The nation is placed highly in key social indicators: education, healthcare, quality of life and personal safety.

Singaporeans enjoy one of the world's longest life expectancy and one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world.

Mahayana Buddhism is the most widely followed religion on the island, although its followers don’t form a majority in the country. There are significantly smaller sized groups of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and those with no religion that make up the majority.

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SINGAPORE ZOO ATTRACTIONS

The Singapore Zoo is one of the major tourist spots in Singapore. It has thousands of rare animals to view. The animals are in open cages to simulate their natural habitat. Some of its attractions are the Australian Outback, Fragile Forest, and the Great Rift Valley. The zoo also has a children’s area where kids can play in the wildlife water theme park. The Singapore Zoo is a great place for entertainment and education for both children and adults.

SINGAPORE BOTANICAL GARDENS The Botanical Gardens sit on 64 acres in the middle of town.

This beautiful garden has a fairly complete collection of plants.

Most plants that are endangered can be found here. A couple of attractions in the garden are the Swan Lake, and the National Orchid Garden. It has a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids. The Botanical Garden is free, except for the National Orchid Garden.

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SINGAPORE FLYER This is the world’s largest ferris wheel, standing 165 meters tall. This is a great place to enjoy a breathtaking 360˚ panoramic view of Singapore and the surrounding area. Tickets may be purchased at the venue or in the Marina Bay. Next to the flyer is the retail terminal. It has three levels of shops, food outlets, a lush tropical forest and an outdoor theater.

MARINA BAY SANDS Marina Bay Sands is one of the two Integrated Resorts in Singapore, the other being the Resort World Sentosa.

Marina Bay Sands is located in the Marina Bay area near the Singapore Flyer, Esplanade, and Merlion. The resort has everything you could need, including a sky park, casinos, hotels, restaurants, cafés or shopping.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE The National Museum of Singapore is the country’s oldest museum with the spirit of innovation. It prides itself on its sophisticated and diverse ways of presenting history. Instead of just being a room for exhibitions and artifacts, the museum also has vibrant festivals and events for culture and heritage.

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ATTRACTIONS

BEACHES

ATTRACTIONS

SINGAPORE QUAYS (WHARFS)

Singapore was once a small fishing village along the river. In the past, life revolved around the river, and today that hasn’t changed. There are three quays or wharfs on the Singapore River that serve as the hub of the city’s entertainment, dining and nightlife scene.

Robertson Quay: This quay was once filled with warehouses, boat yards and industrial offices, but now it's home to a performing arts community, along with many excellent bars and restaurants.

Of the three quays, this is the most relaxed.

Clarke Quay: This is one of Singapore’s most historic neighborhoods. Today, it is a hotbed of restaurants, bars and clubs.

In the same evening, you can dine on Singaporean chili crab at a floating restaurant, listen to a live jazz band, sip on a beer, and dance the night away.

Boat Quay: Back in its heyday, Boat Quay was the maritime trade center.

Today, its historical shops contain affordable seafood restaurants with great views of the Singapore skyline. The other quays are more popular for tourists, but this quay is a favorite among the locals.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE Universal Studios is located in the Resort World Sentosa. It has seven different zones including: Hollywood, New York, Sci-fi City, Ancient Egypt, Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. It features 24 movie-themed rides and attractions, 18 of which are unique to Singapore. The whole family can enjoy rides and attractions based on Hollywood blockbuster films and TV series, such as Transformers The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle, Shrek 4-D Adventures, Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, and more!

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ATTRACTIONS

SENTOSA MERLION

Legend has it that the Merlion would visit Sentosa Island every year to guard Singapore’s well-being. One dark night, the island was threatened by a violent storm, and the Merlion fought the thundering skies with its magical powers and preserved the land. This mighty legend remains permanently on the island to protect Singapore by watching over the ever changing skyline of the Central Business District area and harbor. It also watches over the country’s economic growth and financial crises.

SENTOSA ISLAND Sentosa Island is a 15-minute drive from the city. The island is filled with a variety of relaxing and exciting things to do. For the sun loving beach goers, there are three beautiful beaches that line the coast of this island. Palawan Beach has a suspension bridge linking beach goers to the southernmost point of continental Asia. Silosa Beach has plenty of water sports and land activities to enjoy. Tanjong Beach is the most relaxed beach of the three. Other than relaxing at the beaches, you can take a 1.8 kilometer nature walk that meanders through a rainforest, giving you a chance to see all of the wildlife on Sentosa. Thrill seekers would enjoy zip lining at Mega Zip Adventure Park, racing down the 688 meter Dragon Trail or the 628 meter Jungle Trail at Skyline Luge Sentosa. Other attractions include the Marine Life Park, Universal Studios Singapore, two acclaimed golf courses, and more.

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ORCHARD ROAD

SHOPPING

Orchard Road was once filled with nutmeg orchards, hence the name, but is now the biggest shopping spot in Singapore. It is a 2.2 kilometer long street of shops such as Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton and much more. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafÊs, bars and entertainment centers to enjoy while you’re there shopping or just looking around. There are 22 shopping malls, six department stores, and many shops along the street. With 5,000 brands ranging from affordable to luxury, it's no wonder this a popular attraction for both locals and travelers.

ION ORCHARD Though this is located in the Orchard Road shopping area, it deserves to be mentioned on its own. This massive building is a futuristic, spaceshiplike structure that spans eight retail floors and 48 residential floors. There are over 333 stores with high fashion brands and gourmet dining restaurants and cafes. The artistic structure of the building alone is worth seeing.

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KAMPONG GLAM (ARAB QUARTER)

SHOPPING

In 1822, this area was officially allocated to the Malays and other Muslim communities.

This area is now filled with rows of shops painted in vibrant colors. On Arab Street, you can find silk, batik, lace, organza and other materials.

Customization and tailoring services are also available to create that perfect outfit. At the end of Arab Street, you will see the North Bridge Road. Here you can find sandalwood, prayer beads, book stands, and other unique wares that cater to the Muslim community.

LITTLE INDIA

Little India is a messy, loud, but very alluring place in Singapore. It attracts both travelers and locals. It is where you can find almost anything you are looking for. Mustafa Center is located in the middle of Little India and spans two complexes. It is open 24/7 and carries everything from ethnic jewelry to the latest electronics.

This is the go-to place for last minute shopping.

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CHINATOWN STREET MARKET SHOPPING

SHOPPING

Chinatown Street Market is the most dynamic Chinatown in Asia. There are plenty of souvenir shops, traditional Chinese medicine shops and nighttime street vendors. It has a very complicated layout, but the experience of navigating through the town is a fun and worthwhile experience. To experience a more calm and laid back area away from Chinatown’s bustling atmosphere, take a 5-10 minute walk from the Chinatown MRT Station to Ann Siang Road. Ann Siang Road is a boho creative location for designer fashion boutiques, French patisseries and bookstores.

BUGIS STREET

VIVO CITY

Vivo City is the largest shopping mall in Singapore and one of the largest shopping malls in Asia. Set on the Waterfront and built as a shopping, entertainment and lifestyle destination rolled into one. Vivo City is home to one of Singapore's largest movie theaters among the country's biggest toy stores. It is appropriatley referred to as a mega-mall.

Bugis Street Market is very unique and one of the most thriving shopping spots in Singapore. With over 800 stalls all under one giant canvass roof-it's actually the largest street market in town. Visitors could spend hours browsing the huge range of cheap clothing stores electronics stalls.

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Useful Telephone Numbers Police Emergency​​ 999 Fire & Ambulance ​​995 Non-emergency​​​ 1777 Immigration Matter ​​6391-6100 http://www.ica.gov.sg US Consolate​​​ (65) 6476-9100 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 Tourism Board​​​ (65) 6736 6622 Changi Airport​​​ (65) 6595 6868

Misawa ITT Office Location: Bldg. 485 Phone: 226-3555

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